EU Approves Rule
On Worker Rights
In Merger Deals

By

Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck Dow Jones Newswires

Updated May 11, 2005 12:01 a.m. ET

BRUSSELS -- European Union lawmakers ended two decades of debate between business and labor, passing a single set of rules for cross-border mergers that attempt to balance the need for such tie-ups with maintaining worker rights.

Under the new rules, companies that are merging must adopt the stricter national labor code if one third or more of the new company's work force comes from that country. The rule applies only to businesses...